Virgin Islands Circumnavigation Cruise February 23 - March 2, 2009

The third of our winter season Advanced Coastal Training cruise began Monday February 23, 2009 in the Virgin Islands aboard CELESTIAL, our IP 440. The adventuresome crew includes Rina Landry, Todd Landry, Aiji Graham, Sharon Cheeseman, Scott Duncan and instructor Captain Lee Tucker. We received the following news from Captain Tucker on the first day's work. We'll continue to post updates whenever we have internet connection with the vessel. We may lose them when they reach the BVI, but we will do our best to keep you up to date! To see further reports, click on "comments" below.

From Captain Lee Tucker; S/V CELESTIAL, Monday February 23, 2009:

Captain Lee Tucker boarded Celestial to begin an ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising class with students Todd and Rina Landry, Scott Duncan, Aiji Graham and Sharon Cheeseman. It was a typical February day in the Virgin Islands: air temp 85 deg and a blue sky dotted with white cumulus clouds. The wind was blowing a steady 20 kts and it was once again time to go sailing on one of the school's well found yachts, the Island Packet 440, Celestial.

Following our menu planning, we experienced the provisioning process in a tropical port at the local market, Pueblo. Groceries stowed, the captain assigned crew positions for the day: Todd and Scott, boatswains; Rina safety and emergency coordinator; Aiji navigator and Sharon as engineer. Their respective review of the ships systems was followed by group seminar and discussion, lasting well into the evening.

An inoperative foredeck light caused us to send Todd up the mast to retrieve the blown bulb which was replaced the next morning by Scott, following a quick trip to a hardware store. By days end, we had a much clearer understanding of Celestial's operating systems as well as sails and rigging.

Virgin Islands Circumnavigation February 12-19, 2009

Another exciting Maryland School Advanced Coastal Training cruise began today in the Virgin Islands aboard CELESTIAL, our IP 440. The adventuresome crew, consisting of John Beard, Mike Brown, Jim Wallace, Chip Lohman and instructor Captain Lee Tucker began work bright and early today preparing for departure. This evening, Captain Tucker e-mailed the following:

Today we provisioned, filled propane tanks, fueled the dinghy and assigned day 1 crew positions:

Chip-engineer
Mike-safety coordinator
Jim- Boatswain
John-Bosun and mate

All mechanical systems were reviewed, safety, MOB and abandon ship gear inspected and demonstrated. All running and standing rigging inspected and belowdecks systems checked. Presentations were made for each system by the respective crewmember. We began the overall navigation plan tonight, establishing a tentative cruise plan, subject to weather.

I have assigned rotating crew assignments each day. Friday, Mike is navigator of the day, Chip is engineer, Jim is bosun and John is skipper. Crew positions will rotate each day as will galley duty with each meal.

Weather today was moderate: 84 deg, wind 20-22 ENE PC. Tuesday/Tues night it was E 25-30 gusts to 45 due to a high pressure system just north of us.

Our plan tomorrow takes us East, toward St John, possibly the VI National Park waters. This will place us well for clearing into the BVI at Jost Van Dyke.

Lee Tucker, Captain

We'll continue to post updates whenever we have internet connection with the vessel. We may lose them when they reach the BVI, but we will do our best to keep you up to date! To see further reports, click on "comments" below.